Research your potential cruise product.

[scamper]

There is no such thing as a perfect cruise. For that matter, there is no such thing as a "perfect" anything. In an effort to avoid spending hundreds or perhaps thousands of dollars on a cruise vacation and returning home with tales of disappointment and woe, I would strongly recommend that regardless of the line you choose that you find a good, knowledgable travel agent and sit down with him or her and discuss at length just what you are looking for in a cruise vacation. The Cruise Critc message boards and reviews are an excellent source of research material. However, it is very important to keep an open mind and respect ALL reviews and comments regarding a person's cruise experience. No person is likely to appreciate all the cruise products in the world. Remember that there are individuals who can happily "go with the flow" as well as those who are highly demanding. Neither is any more or less than reasonable. Many cruise lines market their business to a specific client base, and there are lines that try to be all things to all people. Reasoning suggests that those cruise lines whose overall reviews are positive, with few negatives, may indicate a favorable cruise experience. However, one must take other factors into consideration when trying a new cruise line. Determine what is important to you. Are you interested in big, medium size, or small ships? Do their ships visit the ports that you want to visit? Are alcoholic beverages included in the price of the fare? Look for sample menus, do they serve the kind of food that you are comfortable with? What about the amenities? Is a casino important to you? How about a rock climbing wall up the side of the funnel? In-line skating tracks or basketball courts? Does the line cater to families? Are the itineraries port inclusive, or are sea days more the norm? Is it important that your fellow passengers be well-traveled or of the higher income brackets? The factors to consider are ad infinitum. Always remember that everyone's tastes can be radically different than your own. Their experiences have certainly been different than yours. Weigh as many factors as you feel are necessary and make the decision on your own. In the end, you are likely to have memories that you will talk about for years to come.